The U.S. Trade Situation for Fruit and Vegetable Products

Over the last decade, there has been a growing U.S. trade deficit in fresh and processed fruits and
vegetables. Although U.S. fruit and vegetable exports totaled more than $7 billion in 2009, U.S.
imports of fruits and vegetables exceeded $18 billion, resulting in a gap between imports and
exports of $11.2 billion (excludes nuts and processed nut products). This trade deficit has
widened over time-despite the fact that U.S. fruit and vegetable exports have continued to rise
each year-because growth in imports has greatly outpaced export growth. As a result, the United
States has gone from being a net exporter of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables in the early
1970s to being a net importer of fruits and vegetables today.